On rookie butterflies and 15 K's

Greinke's superlative start leads to a couple top quotes

Here are some of the notable quotes from around Major League Baseball this week:

"It was crazy. People were looking down on you from the upper deck, and there was a lot of noise. There were a little butterflies, but I got through it after the first at-bat."

-Brandon Allen, Arizona rookie first baseman, commenting on making his Major League debut for the Diamondbacks on Saturday night against Houston. Allen singled in his second at-bat for his first career hit then collected his first RBI on a single on Sunday.
(Arizona Republic)

"I just came over here with the mindset -- I don't have a specified role. Just go out there and pitch. They've got [Matt] Capps here being the closer, so I don't have to worry about trying to do that. I just wanted to get out there and pitch whenever they wanted me to. So far, it's worked out pretty decently."

-Joel Hanrahan, former Nats closer, on his non-specific yet successful role as a reliever with the Pirates.
(MLB.com)

"The starting pitching has been unbelievable. You want to score more runs for them and give them room to breathe, but they seem to eat it up when they are in a nail-biting situation."

"He was fantastic and was doing everything right. We were using curveballs, which is a pitch we normally don't use a lot with him. It was great in the bullpen and carried over. His tempo was fantastic. There was no rush to him today. He just seemed in command of everything and got a lot of fast swings out there."

-Chad Moeller, on Orioles pitcher Jeremy Guthrie's effort on Wednesday night. Guthrie allowed one run on six hits over seven innings in a 5-1 victory over the Minnesota Twins.
(MLB.com)

"Strikeouts are easier now than they were in the past. It's a different story. It's definitely nice to do it, but strikeouts are a lot easier now. At least, I think they are."

-Zack Greinke, after tying Mark Gubicza's team record with 15 strikeouts against the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday night.
(Kansas City Star)

"He was just throwing anything and everything up there -- [and] different speeds, so there was no pattern and you couldn't get any sort of rhythm."

-Jamey Carroll after being part of the Indians lineup that struck out 15 times against Kansas City's Zack Greinke.
(MLB.com)

"I just don't feel like [the Cardinals] felt I could do the job. In their defense, I wasn't pitching like this."

-Chris Perez, who seems to have found his groove with Cleveland.
(MLB.com)

"It would be great. That's where everybody wants to play is up there in the big leagues. Hopefully I get there and start up there next year and not be back in the Minors anymore."

- Catcher J.R. Towles talking about possibly being recalled to the Astros this September when rosters expand.
(Houston Chronicle)

"Just hitting behind him in Vegas was a lot of fun, watching that show he put on. It definitely helped me out being a guy behind him, because you know he's going to be on base. To see him succeeding after the years he's grinded through in the Minor Leagues and what he's done the time he's been here, it's something you cherish as a player and as a friend."

- Toronto outfielder Travis Snider, commenting on teammate Randy Ruiz, whom he played with during a Minor League stint.
(Toronto Star)

"He has had a great year. I want him to keep having a great year. I'm giving him a little blow. Looking back at it, we thought he might play half of our games or two-fifths. Now, he has been in almost all of them [103 of 124]. I'm sure he wants to play as long as he can, and I want him to wind up having a good year."

-Brewers manager Ken Macha commenting on why he gave Craig Counsell a day off in the team's series finale against Washington.
(Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

"I've learned to be patient in three years here. As much as you might not like it sometimes, you know it's for the best, and you have to learn and try to make the most of it."

"He's been everything I knew he could be. Marlon learned from the right people coming up [with Philadelphia]. They taught him how to play the game. He never quits -- never. He doesn't make excuses; he just grinds."

"Everything was pretty good -- good breaking ball, commanded his fastball, stayed down, threw good changeups, generally very positive. He's done a phenomenal job. Just getting him back at full strength, being Dice-K, will be very welcome."

- Boston manager Terry Francona commenting on pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka, who allowed one hit and no runs in three innings of work during a rehab start for the Golf Coast League Red Sox on Monday. He also struck out four hitters while walking none.
(Boston Herald)

"He doesn't swing at any bad pitches, so why wouldn't you bat him leadoff?"

- Braves manager Bobby Cox on his decision to insert Matt Diaz and his .377 on-base percentage into the leadoff role as the team awaits the return of regular leadoff man Nate McLouth from the disabled list.
(Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

"I was getting some good pitches to hit and wasn't missing."

-Josh Willingham on his 4-for-4 night with five runs, six RBIs and two home runs.
(Washington Post)

"I think it was a freak thing. It was a shoulder cleanup. There's no reason I can't play until I'm 40."

"I've always taken pride in staying as healthy as possible, playing through pain, playing through injuries and doing my best to help the team win. Now I can't do that, and it's obviously disappointing and frustrating."

"I very well could have been. If you tip your pitches, it's a lot easier to hit in this league."

-John Smoltz, now with the Cardinals, responding to the thought he may have been tipping his pitches earlier this season while with the Boston Red Sox.
(MLB.com)

"I think we all want to accomplish the same thing, or have him accomplish that goal."

- Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu on Ichiro Suzkuki's quest to become the first player in Major League history to post nine consecutive 200-hit seasons.
(Seattle Times)

"We're working on some mechanical stuff that will put me in a better position. And that's just giving myself a little more time over the rubber. That's getting back, staying back. I have a tendency to drift toward home plate a little bit."

-Kyle Davies, Kansas City Royals pitcher, on steps he's taking to better control his fastball.
(MLB.com)

"We have a lot of confidence in Brad. I think people kind of look back to last year and see how well he pitched -- and he's obviously capable of doing that. I think we got a little spoiled because he was perfect."